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Archiver > GENMTD > 1998-11 > 0912114587


From: "Cynthia M. Van Ness" <>
Subject: Re: Library mailing list?
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 13:09:47 -0800


On 11 Nov 1998, Denice Lucas wrote:

> Speaking of Libraries: I would want to remind everyone that
> whenever they "publish" (no matter whether photocopied or
> professionally bound) a local history, or a family genealogy, be
> sure to prepare a copy to present at least to your local library. I
> would even go so far to suggest that you send copies to any of the
> county libraries that are 'featured residences' in your publication.
> Don't forget to include any local LDS FHC in your distirbution, or
> even your church library, if you have one. It may not make it into
> the general circulation stacks, but there's a good chance it will be
> cataloged and shelved in some manner for others to use.

A hearty amen to this! The local history & genealogy department of
my public library has the smallest budget of all of the departments;
certainly you can understand that, for example, childrens' services
and business collections have a greater institutional priority.

And with huge numbers of genealogies or surname books being
published all of the time, how could we possibly choose one over
another? ("Gee, there aren't a lot of books in our collection for
the "W" surnames; let's build up the W's"? I don't *think* so!) So
my library's limited genealogy budget goes for how-to books, indexes
of all kinds, local histories, ethnic research guides, reference
books, and so on.

Thus, we are always delighted when someone donates a genealogy or
family history, especially if it hs a local connection. We write an
enthusiastic thank-you letter and have it cataloged.

An aside--sometimes purchasing a book is the least of a library's
cost when it comes to adding something to the collection. The
cataloging process, which can take up the time of an expensive
professional and the use of an expensive fee-based cataloging
network like OCLC, can exceed the cost of purchase. If it requires
binding, add on several more dollars, plus clerical costs for other
kinds of recordkeeping.

-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-+-=*=-
Cynthia Van Ness, M.L.S. | Co-moderator, Buffalo NY USA genealogy page:
| http://freenet.buffalo.edu/~roots
If information were power, librarians would rule the world. (C. Stoll)

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